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Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

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Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#231

Post by emn13 »

trulyrandom wrote: post #75
pottertheotter wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only 3 years of updates? I've had some version of an iPhone since the 3 and have considered giving Android a go, but that's a big downside if true.

Coming from iOS, I can imagine that being a disappointment. 3 years of updates is a relatively new trend in the Android world. I used to complain about this as well, but now that it's 3 years, that's about when I usually buy a new phone anyway. See: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705 .

Only anecdotally, but old iphones (more than 3 years old, such as in my case the original iphone SE) have poor enough battery life expectancy that I'm not sure I'd call longevity a big win for iOS.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#232

Post by mherdeg »

This is great.

My Pixel 3 XL has broken Bluetooth/wifi connectivity (even after a factory reset, "Bluetooth keeps stopping"). And it only connects via USB-C for headphone or charging some of the time in a specific orientation (even after cleaning out the charging port with a paperclip and flashlight).

The device is just out of warranty but within credit-card extended warranty so I'm thinking of rolling the dice on the $481 Google Store-mediated repair process and hoping they fill out a form that Amex provides. (Risk is that, after this problem showed up, I also dropped it and got a cracked screen, so Amex might not be on board with also reimbursing screen-crack repairs.)

Aside from not having reliable Wifi, Bluetooth, or USB-C connectivity I've been very happy with the Pixel and looking forward to using a 4A while I wait to see what happens with repairs on the 3XL.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#233

Post by centimeter »

artimaeis wrote: post #201
kharms wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a little 3.5mm-to-lightning dongle that came with at least the iPhone 7. Not sure if it comes with the current model, but FYI. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMX62AM/A/lightning-to-35...

They don’t come in the box anymore, but are fairly affordable at $9. Also, they’re quite effective devices: https://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/lightning-adapter-audio-qu...

Impressive! Didn’t know Ken did audio reviews too.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#234

Post by noelsusman »

ako wrote: post #164
JohnTHaller wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$349 for a phone that will get full OS updates for 3 years works out to $9.69 per month. That's pretty solid. The competing Apple variant (lower res HDish screen but much faster CPU) is the iPhone SE 128GB for $449. It will probably get OS updates for 5 years which works out to $7.48 per month.

Bought my son a Nokia 5.3 for 180 euros, completely surprised by how well it works. If I had to buy my own phone (currently have a company iPhone 11) I would seriously consider the Nokia 5.3 for myself.

The 5.3 is a great phone. The Pixel 4a has a better screen and better camera (kinda), but at $200 in the US it's a fantastic value for what you get.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#235

Post by dirtyid »

csours wrote: post #30

I can only hope they will revisit face unlock in the era of face masks. I greatly prefered fingerprint unlock. I treat either of these as tamper resistance rather than actual security, but I find fingerprint unlock to be a much better experience.

Not very secure either, but pair a miband4 with smart unlock. 3-4 weeks of battery life, works with gloves and masks/scarves. Keep keychain or throw it in backpack. The 1st party app lets you adjust unlock distance by range. Anyone in range can unlock your device, but works well in terms of convenience.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#236

Post by noelsusman »

tyingq wrote: post #69
trulyrandom wrote: post #50

Can vouch for the Pixel line. I've had a Pixel 3a XL for a little over a year and it's been great. Stock Android, good display, great battery life, great camera, great security, reasonably fast and 3 years of updates. That's all I need from a phone. The Pixel 4a seems like a logical upgrade from the previous generation, sticking to the same principles.

Perhaps I don't know what I'm missing, but I've just bought low end Androids thus far. Like the Motorola G series. I typically buy one that's about $150, and they tend to last 2-3 years before I crack the screen, etc. I've never felt like they were slow or missing anything I needed.

The Pixel is all about the camera. There are a few other niceties compared to other budget/mid-range phones, but if a good camera isn't important to you then there's no reason to buy the Pixel.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#237

Post by JeremyNT »

droidno9 wrote: post #68

This is an awesome phone at $350. I currently have the Pixel 4, but if this was available when I was making my purchase decision, I'd probably have gone with it. That said, the Pixel line of phones isn't known for having long lasting battery. A feature that I've found to be indispensable is wireless charging. I just rest my Pixel 4 on a vertical charging base throughout the day. Otherwise, I'd have to have to constan…

> That said, the Pixel line of phones isn't known for having long lasting battery. A feature that I've found to be indispensable is wireless charging. I just rest my Pixel 4 on a vertical charging base throughout the day. Otherwise, I'd have to have to constantly plug/unplug the phone throughout the day to charge, and that'd be a huge regression in the user experience.

Note that the 4a actually has a larger battery than the 4, per the article, so this complaint may well be addressed by this device.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#238

Post by driverdan »

mchusma wrote: post #131

My pixel 3a is by far the best phone I have ever owned (across both iOS and Android). Comparing the 4a to this it looks like a bunch of solid incremental improvements across the board. Huge fan of basically everything here. Price, screen size, phone size. Battery size could be a touch bigger, as my 3a has the best battery life I just wish for about 10% more for edge cases.

I didn't own one but the Pixel 3a is pretty disappointing on paper. It has lower specs than the Pixel 2.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#240

Post by ss3000 »

droidno9 wrote: post #68

This is an awesome phone at $350. I currently have the Pixel 4, but if this was available when I was making my purchase decision, I'd probably have gone with it. That said, the Pixel line of phones isn't known for having long lasting battery. A feature that I've found to be indispensable is wireless charging. I just rest my Pixel 4 on a vertical charging base throughout the day. Otherwise, I'd have to have to constan…

I'm not a huge Apple fanboy by any measure, but one thing I do appreciate is that they consider wireless charging to be a table stakes feature, and include it even in their "budget" phones. They clearly understand how dramatically it elevates the user experience.

Compare that to every Android manufacturer who either don't offer wireless charging at all or gate it to flagships, it's a really sad state of affairs for someone like myself who won't even consider a phone without wireless charging today.

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